96
96
Jan 24, 2013
01/13
by
MSNBCW
tv
eye 96
favorite 0
quote 0
no budget, no pay. >> in the spotlight tonight, debt ceiling magic. that was house speaker john boehner after the house passed a bill making the debt ceiling disappear until may 18th, without cutting any federal spending. the stupidly named and conceived "no budget, no pay act" passed with a vote. 33 republicans voted against the bill, 199 voted for it. 86 democrats voted for the bill, 111 democrats voted against it. not only will the no budget, no pay act suspend the debt ceiling for about three months, it also requires the house and senate to pass budget resolutions by april 15th, and if they don't, representatives and senators will not get paid, which is of course, wildly unconstitutional. the 27th amendment prohibits congress from modifying their own paychecks in any way. they can vote to change the pay for future congress only, but republicans passing an unconstitutional bill, while at the same time relieving the pressure on the debt ceiling was welcomed by some democrats as republicans moving from out-right crazy to half-crazy. >> i'm not sure w
no budget, no pay. >> in the spotlight tonight, debt ceiling magic. that was house speaker john boehner after the house passed a bill making the debt ceiling disappear until may 18th, without cutting any federal spending. the stupidly named and conceived "no budget, no pay act" passed with a vote. 33 republicans voted against the bill, 199 voted for it. 86 democrats voted for the bill, 111 democrats voted against it. not only will the no budget, no pay act suspend the debt...
42
42
Jan 26, 2013
01/13
by
MSNBC
tv
eye 42
favorite 0
quote 0
now that the debt ceiling is gone, that has become their plan a, the best shot at getting spending cuts. the problem is that their plan a has the most boring name of really any policy in washington, the sequester. but you need to know about it to follow what is going to happen in the next couple of months in d.c. i am not going to use the "s" word, i'm going to call it big, dumb, very, very liberal, friendly spending cuts. but before we rename it you need to hear our speaker, john boehner on the subject. >> the deadline, obviously, is the sequester, have you had any conversation with the president or harry reid about that so far? >> i have not. the sequester is going to go into effect on march first unless there are cuts and reforms to get us on a plan to balance the budget in the next ten years, it is as simple as that. >> mr. boehner told the board that the sequester is as much leverage as we're going to get, quote. he meant it to sound reassuring to conservatives, like that is fine, we don't need the debt ceiling, we have the big spending cuts, democrats will never allow those. i can
now that the debt ceiling is gone, that has become their plan a, the best shot at getting spending cuts. the problem is that their plan a has the most boring name of really any policy in washington, the sequester. but you need to know about it to follow what is going to happen in the next couple of months in d.c. i am not going to use the "s" word, i'm going to call it big, dumb, very, very liberal, friendly spending cuts. but before we rename it you need to hear our speaker, john...
96
96
Jan 24, 2013
01/13
by
CURRENT
tv
eye 96
favorite 0
quote 0
the debt ceiling. the g.o.p. is calling to balance the federal budget in just ten years. that's almost twice as fast as previous efforts by republicans. if that is the case, medicare and other safety net programs wills take a huge hit. yesterday's extension of the debt ceiling now goes to the senate which will likely pass it as well. we'll be right back. (vo) current's award winning original series is back with an all new episode straight from the headlines. (vo) in the minefield of the nation's gun control debate, this could be the most polarizing issue. >> anybody can claim stand your ground and they could get away with murder. >> announcer: broadcasting across the nation on your radio and current tv, this is the "bill press show." >> bill: yes indeed. equality moves to the front lines as the pentagon today lifts the ban on women in combat. big move. a great move. hello, everybody. happy, happy thursday and welcome, welcome to the "full court press." coming to you live all the way across this great l
the debt ceiling. the g.o.p. is calling to balance the federal budget in just ten years. that's almost twice as fast as previous efforts by republicans. if that is the case, medicare and other safety net programs wills take a huge hit. yesterday's extension of the debt ceiling now goes to the senate which will likely pass it as well. we'll be right back. (vo) current's award winning original series is back with an all new episode straight from the headlines. (vo) in the minefield of the...
184
184
Jan 24, 2013
01/13
by
CNBC
tv
eye 184
favorite 0
quote 0
in this half hour the house passes a bill to suspend the debt ceiling but the spending sequester cuts are still set to kick in on march 1st and i hope they do. now house speaker john boehner says president obama is out to annihilate the republican party. we'll talk about all that with new hampshire senator kelly ayotte and our political panel in just a few moments. >> also, big time golfers phil mickelson, tiger woods, lebron james and derek jeter are all supply siders. we'll explain that later this hour. >> i wasn't involved in the talking points process. as i understand it, as i've been told, it was a typical interagency process where staff, including from the state department all participated to try to come up with whatever was going to be made publicly available. >> that of course was secretary of state clinton today on capitol hill saying she had no role in susan rice's false talking points on the benghazi consulate attack. but will we ever find out why ambassador rice denied the terrorist attack and misled the public saying this on "meet the press." >> what happened in benghazi
in this half hour the house passes a bill to suspend the debt ceiling but the spending sequester cuts are still set to kick in on march 1st and i hope they do. now house speaker john boehner says president obama is out to annihilate the republican party. we'll talk about all that with new hampshire senator kelly ayotte and our political panel in just a few moments. >> also, big time golfers phil mickelson, tiger woods, lebron james and derek jeter are all supply siders. we'll explain that...
77
77
Jan 24, 2013
01/13
by
MSNBC
tv
eye 77
favorite 0
quote 0
for spending cuts for every dollar in debt ceiling raised. that is not what you got this time. and you have put the focus on senate democrats, a political tactic, perhaps a very successful one. but is that really a tactical retreat? >> i don't think so at all, chuck. and i was curious to hear steny's comments about this being a gimmick. 86 democrats supported the bill that we had on the floor yesterday, the no budget, no pay, so clearly they didn't think it was a gimmick. this was a bipartisan effort. look, if you look at the goal, we've got to get our fiscal house in order, we've got to balance the budget, and in order to do that, the senate actually has to produce a budget, which they haven't done in nearly four years. the house has had budgets for each of the last two years that actually get to balance. so what we did, in this bill, is to say to the senate, look, you've got to do a budget. families do budgets, businesses do budgets, employers do budgets. the senate has not done a budget in nearly four years, so this is the challenge for th
for spending cuts for every dollar in debt ceiling raised. that is not what you got this time. and you have put the focus on senate democrats, a political tactic, perhaps a very successful one. but is that really a tactical retreat? >> i don't think so at all, chuck. and i was curious to hear steny's comments about this being a gimmick. 86 democrats supported the bill that we had on the floor yesterday, the no budget, no pay, so clearly they didn't think it was a gimmick. this was a...
99
99
Jan 26, 2013
01/13
by
CSPAN
tv
eye 99
favorite 0
quote 0
i have said many times, i would oppose the budget control act which will raise the debt ceiling. in part, because the way the question provisions were written. they were unbalanced. 50% of our cuts come from the defense. it just cut everything by the same amount as opposed to give our military leaders the pentagon to cut from unsuccessful and outdated programs and put more money into the most successful and important programs. with that said, the only thing worse than the defense cuts and sequestration is no cuts at all. if we don't have the sequestration cuts at the top line revenue level went we will increase the debt ceiling with almost nothing to show for it. part of the reasons why the house republicans this week, extended the debt ceiling for three months to feel out paul ryan and his team to draft a budget that gets us balanced in 10 years but also protects the department of defense from further cuts because they have already been cut by $500 billion. >> do you get the idea, do you get the sense that americans are tired of world business. that doing some business here at h
i have said many times, i would oppose the budget control act which will raise the debt ceiling. in part, because the way the question provisions were written. they were unbalanced. 50% of our cuts come from the defense. it just cut everything by the same amount as opposed to give our military leaders the pentagon to cut from unsuccessful and outdated programs and put more money into the most successful and important programs. with that said, the only thing worse than the defense cuts and...
116
116
Jan 31, 2013
01/13
by
MSNBCW
tv
eye 116
favorite 0
quote 0
we're prepared to have these cuts. republicans want the win, and democrats don't necessarily want to fight all over again on this and maybe threaten something on the debt ceiling, which for them would be worse. >> one of the things that hasn't changed since the republicans saying these job numbers are terrible. we're going to keep cutting medical they get even worse. >> so in terms of the big battle and any kind of possible grand bargain, you think that's over continuing resolution and budget numbers? >> yeah. well, i mean, the first thing that comes up time-wise, is on march 1st we have to deal with the sequester because the republicans reordered the way that these things are going to fall on the calendar. the sequester is those automatic spending cuts. billions -- tens of billions of dollars just this year in spending cuts. the republicans would like to have some kind of spending cut win this year, and that might be their only opportunity to get one, so you can see them hunkering in and saying, you know, we're going
we're prepared to have these cuts. republicans want the win, and democrats don't necessarily want to fight all over again on this and maybe threaten something on the debt ceiling, which for them would be worse. >> one of the things that hasn't changed since the republicans saying these job numbers are terrible. we're going to keep cutting medical they get even worse. >> so in terms of the big battle and any kind of possible grand bargain, you think that's over continuing resolution...
122
122
Jan 24, 2013
01/13
by
WETA
tv
eye 122
favorite 0
quote 0
remember how they vowed they would only raise the debt ceiling by a dollar for every dollar cut in spending. now they said never mind. we'll push that down the road. the big fight will be on the sweeping spending cuts that go into effect march 1 and on the government funding that runs out on march 27. march is going to be the month to watch, and it's a month that could end in a government shutdown. >> ifill: is it the kind of fight the republicans want to have to redefine themselveses? >> i think they do. gwen, i think you have to know when to hold them and know when to fold them. yes, the republicans folded on this wise wisely. finally, i think they got some smart on this. you have to pick your fights. they need a breather now. they've been on the defense for a year on tax cuts for millionaires, on toughness, shutting down the government, they're not going to compromise. they need to recalbright here, a reset button needs to be pushed and it seems like in every aspect of government. and fight on future spending, not on obligations already incur. >> ifill: in the inaugural address this week
remember how they vowed they would only raise the debt ceiling by a dollar for every dollar cut in spending. now they said never mind. we'll push that down the road. the big fight will be on the sweeping spending cuts that go into effect march 1 and on the government funding that runs out on march 27. march is going to be the month to watch, and it's a month that could end in a government shutdown. >> ifill: is it the kind of fight the republicans want to have to redefine themselveses?...
46
46
Jan 29, 2013
01/13
by
MSNBC
tv
eye 46
favorite 0
quote 0
it comes out of the debt ceiling deal in 2011 and it was the backup to the supercommittee. and way it was designed, it was originally supposed to be half taxes and half spending cuts. so both sides would be terrified of letting it happen, and because they were so terrified of letting it happen, they would come to a deal. the point of the sequester was to get the two sides to a deal. but republicans wouldn't allow tax increases, even in the sequester. and so they made this weird deal with democrats. and they said, okay, the sequester has to be all spending cuts. but because we're not giving you any taxes, they can mostly be spending cuts you don't mind and that we really hate. so half of the sequester, a full half of it is defense. that is a huge, huge cut to defense. but it's actually worse than that for republicans. medicaid is completely protected from the sequester. social security, completely protected. most low-income programs, completely protected. medicaid beneficiaries, completely protected. veterans benefits, completely protected. pell grants, completely protected.
it comes out of the debt ceiling deal in 2011 and it was the backup to the supercommittee. and way it was designed, it was originally supposed to be half taxes and half spending cuts. so both sides would be terrified of letting it happen, and because they were so terrified of letting it happen, they would come to a deal. the point of the sequester was to get the two sides to a deal. but republicans wouldn't allow tax increases, even in the sequester. and so they made this weird deal with...
33
33
Jan 29, 2013
01/13
by
MSNBC
tv
eye 33
favorite 0
quote 0
that was to pay for the last debt ceiling increase, let alone any future increases. we're not interested in shutting government down. what happens on march 1, spending goes down automatically. march 27th is when the moment you're talking about, the continuing resolution expires. we are more than happy to keep spending at those levels going on into the future while we debate how to balance the budget, how to grow the economy, how to create economic opportunity. >> all right. now let's put this in context and think about what congressman ryan from wisconsin is really saying. republicans backed off their debt limit threat because they knew it was a political loser. and now they seem to be backing off their threat to shut down the government. sequester? well, that's another matter. if congress does nothing, the cuts take effect. republicans don't want defense cuts, but they might be willing to stomach those cuts because domestic programs would also get slashed, including medicare. and that's what republicans really want. let's turn to barney frank, former massachusetts c
that was to pay for the last debt ceiling increase, let alone any future increases. we're not interested in shutting government down. what happens on march 1, spending goes down automatically. march 27th is when the moment you're talking about, the continuing resolution expires. we are more than happy to keep spending at those levels going on into the future while we debate how to balance the budget, how to grow the economy, how to create economic opportunity. >> all right. now let's put...
82
82
Jan 24, 2013
01/13
by
CURRENT
tv
eye 82
favorite 0
quote 0
take for instance, raising the debt ceiling. something that everyone agrees need to be done. well, good news. by a vote of 285-144 today the house passed a bill raising the debt ceiling until may. but due to a provision that would withhold congressional pay if a budget isn't approved this year. 111 democrats voted against raiding the debt ceiling calling that provision a gimmick. however, it goes well beyond the house. today senator dick durbin revealed the democrats don't have the 51 votes necessary to reinstitute the talking filibuster even through the so-called nuclear option, even though everyone seems to want it. the last hope in filibuster reform is harry reid's great compromise of needing 41 votes to maintain a filibuster but i'm confident that the democrats will find some way to back down from that, too. joining me now the only one and only michael tomasky. starting with the debt ceiling. 111 democrats voted against raising the debt ceiling. was this all about the no budget no pay provision are the democrats trying to stick it to the g.o.p. >> i think the latter and i
take for instance, raising the debt ceiling. something that everyone agrees need to be done. well, good news. by a vote of 285-144 today the house passed a bill raising the debt ceiling until may. but due to a provision that would withhold congressional pay if a budget isn't approved this year. 111 democrats voted against raiding the debt ceiling calling that provision a gimmick. however, it goes well beyond the house. today senator dick durbin revealed the democrats don't have the 51 votes...
153
153
Jan 27, 2013
01/13
by
MSNBCW
tv
eye 153
favorite 0
quote 0
for every dollar increase in this debt ceiling we have to have a dollar in cuts to match that. the president said earlier this month, i'm not doing that anymore. we are not going to keep negotiating over the debt ceiling. this is our obligation over. the republicans have conceded the president had won the argument and are now -- this week they ebb extended the debt ceiling with no accompanied spending cuts. the republicans will cede that issue to him. >> your latest article, mitt romney i'm not going away. tell me. >> certainly was a little different. he came in to toub this weekend for the alfalfa dinner. we hadn't seen a lot from mitt romney since he lost in november. he to told donors that it was purposeful. he is not going anywhere. he will be active in 2013 and 2014s and in terms of 2016. although some sources said his personal ambition for public office are over. >> good to see you both today. thank you so much. >> thank you, t.j. >>> to the weather, the midwest is facing an ice threat. winter storm is dropping snow and freezing rain expected to bring icy conditions. powe
for every dollar increase in this debt ceiling we have to have a dollar in cuts to match that. the president said earlier this month, i'm not doing that anymore. we are not going to keep negotiating over the debt ceiling. this is our obligation over. the republicans have conceded the president had won the argument and are now -- this week they ebb extended the debt ceiling with no accompanied spending cuts. the republicans will cede that issue to him. >> your latest article, mitt romney...
106
106
Jan 29, 2013
01/13
by
CURRENT
tv
eye 106
favorite 0
quote 0
if not that fight, then in the next debt ceiling fight the next debt ceiling fight. the demand nor spending cuts isn't going to go anywhere. >> bill: barney frank, he would be fired up, ready to go. he knows she is issues. he knows the fiscal issues better than anybody else. >> deval patrick said he would be happy to have him. he didn't endorse it per se but he expressed sort of opens to the idea. >> wouldn't be a big learning curve for barney. >> bill: no, not at all. i think it would be very tough for governor patrick not to appoint him. i mean who else could step in and have all of the information and all of the experience you need to really fight for the people. >> i was going to say -- >> bill: now, of course, so is it is sort of a relief the fiscal issues are out of the way and we can talk about something else like maybe immigration reform. very unusual to see these days eight senators, four from each party, agree on anything, correct? >> it is. >> bill: you cover the congress. you're there. >> i do. filibuster reform deal that killed filibuster reform. this is
if not that fight, then in the next debt ceiling fight the next debt ceiling fight. the demand nor spending cuts isn't going to go anywhere. >> bill: barney frank, he would be fired up, ready to go. he knows she is issues. he knows the fiscal issues better than anybody else. >> deval patrick said he would be happy to have him. he didn't endorse it per se but he expressed sort of opens to the idea. >> wouldn't be a big learning curve for barney. >> bill: no, not at all. i...
104
104
Jan 24, 2013
01/13
by
CNN
tv
eye 104
favorite 0
quote 0
ceiling ultimately unless they get severe spending cuts and the obama administration is not going to give it to them. and you are going to watch the u.s. do crazy, crazy things this year. >> if you are right on those crazy, crazy things, then the rest of us are in for a dreadful, dread full time? >> dreadful. it is going to be so strange for the richest country on earth to cross their arms and say i'm not paying. imagine crossing your arms. you are going to see it this year. >> reporter: now, we have been asking our guests here for the riskometer. on this side we have is the u.s. a bigger threat to global growth in 2013. on this side the e.u. lutnic thinks the u.s. is by far the bigger. as you look overall most people still seem to believe europe is the biggest threat in 2013. by the way, speet tweet me wher think the biggest threat is. >> very official looking. did you make that yourself? >> don't you mock it? it works and it is doing a good job. >> we will have people tweet you and see what they feel about all of this but a lot of power players weighing in on whether or not there i
ceiling ultimately unless they get severe spending cuts and the obama administration is not going to give it to them. and you are going to watch the u.s. do crazy, crazy things this year. >> if you are right on those crazy, crazy things, then the rest of us are in for a dreadful, dread full time? >> dreadful. it is going to be so strange for the richest country on earth to cross their arms and say i'm not paying. imagine crossing your arms. you are going to see it this year....
122
122
Jan 26, 2013
01/13
by
CSPAN
tv
eye 122
favorite 0
quote 0
we are not going to just keep raising the debt ceiling, we are going to make a down payment on debt reduction and we are going to putt -- we are going to point the country in the right direction. we are going to cut spending. [applause] there will be times when conservatives disagree on the way forward. we never marched in lockstep. we can deliver it in private. all we should ask for each other is that we give an honest account of our actions and the reasons for them. we should challenge the left, not each other. if we take a prudent course we will be in very good company. take james madison. nowadays we call him the founder and the father of the constitution. but at the constitutional convention he lost key arguments. he fought to give each state the same number of seats in the senate. he wanted to give congress more power. he wanted them to be able to be tough state laws. in both cases, he argued vigorously for his side. in both sets -- in both cases he lost. when it came to ratify the when it came time to ratify the constitution, there was no better person than james madison. he led the ch
we are not going to just keep raising the debt ceiling, we are going to make a down payment on debt reduction and we are going to putt -- we are going to point the country in the right direction. we are going to cut spending. [applause] there will be times when conservatives disagree on the way forward. we never marched in lockstep. we can deliver it in private. all we should ask for each other is that we give an honest account of our actions and the reasons for them. we should challenge the...
103
103
Jan 24, 2013
01/13
by
CSPAN
tv
eye 103
favorite 0
quote 0
we want to remind you, in case you missed it, the house passed a bill yesterday suspending the debt ceiling. here is a baltimore sun piece. also on page 6 of "the baltimore sun" is a picture of john boehner and says -- they show the speaker in a photo saying it would cut the deficit twice as fast as other plants. the speaker is also out there making a speech to the society. the headline basically says this -- his focus is basically to annihilate the republican party. here's a look at you to but. [video clip] >> from what we heard yesterday, it is pretty clear to me -- it should be clear to all you he knows he cannot do any of that as long as the house is controlled by republicans. we are expecting over the next 22 months to be the focus of this administration as they attempt to annihilate the republican party. i do believe that is their goal. and just to shut us into the dustbin of history. host: these were remarks to the ripon society. they go on to write to that the transcripts or accurate, and noted that the speaker regularly attends the event. perhaps we will hear more about this in the
we want to remind you, in case you missed it, the house passed a bill yesterday suspending the debt ceiling. here is a baltimore sun piece. also on page 6 of "the baltimore sun" is a picture of john boehner and says -- they show the speaker in a photo saying it would cut the deficit twice as fast as other plants. the speaker is also out there making a speech to the society. the headline basically says this -- his focus is basically to annihilate the republican party. here's a look at...
319
319
Jan 24, 2013
01/13
by
CURRENT
tv
eye 319
favorite 0
quote 0
going to raise it without equal pay cut, and basically he went back on that, and as you said, all he did was kick it down the road for three months. what was the point for him? >> the point was to look like they had some kind of a win because they knew they were in trouble on the debt ceiling, and then put the pressure on somebody else, namely the senate. but they are going to put forth a budget pretty soon that is really going to be an important % contrast for the american people to see. they are going to try to balance the budget in ten years, which you cannot do without slashing medicare and medicaid, and social security. so the american people will get, i think, a very good look at the way republicans want to balance the budget and do deficit reduction and the way democrats do. we actually went through this with paul ryan's budget which was so egregious the leader of his party had to back away from it in the campaign. >> stephanie: yeah, it was seen as sort of a slap at the senate but they are calling it the no budget, no pay idea. it has been regarded by a lot of people as a gim
going to raise it without equal pay cut, and basically he went back on that, and as you said, all he did was kick it down the road for three months. what was the point for him? >> the point was to look like they had some kind of a win because they knew they were in trouble on the debt ceiling, and then put the pressure on somebody else, namely the senate. but they are going to put forth a budget pretty soon that is really going to be an important % contrast for the american people to see....
151
151
Jan 31, 2013
01/13
by
FOXNEWS
tv
eye 151
favorite 0
quote 0
they cut a deal to stop release three months the debt ceiling being the problem. right now you have the fed printing money at a dizzying rate. here's what you should keep in mind. the stock market is out of its mind, going through the roof. and the president of the united states's approval rating is through the roof. it's at 60%. >>gretchen: so how do you put this all together? i think a lot of people still scratching their heads over the election when you look at these economic numbers. so how do you -- how do you piece it together in your mind that the economy can be doing so poorly and yet the president is more popular than ever. fun know the answer, e-mail us or tweet us. >>steve: there's so many low-information viewers and votes out there. >>brian: that's their choice. >>steve: absolutely. when the payroll tax hit at the first of this year, they are going to go where did that money go? it was a shock to them. senator john thune yesterday tweeted after jay carney blamed the house democrats. -- house republicans. he says white house secretary blames g.o.p. for
they cut a deal to stop release three months the debt ceiling being the problem. right now you have the fed printing money at a dizzying rate. here's what you should keep in mind. the stock market is out of its mind, going through the roof. and the president of the united states's approval rating is through the roof. it's at 60%. >>gretchen: so how do you put this all together? i think a lot of people still scratching their heads over the election when you look at these economic numbers....
125
125
Jan 28, 2013
01/13
by
CSPAN2
tv
eye 125
favorite 0
quote 0
and we're not going to just keep raising the debt ceiling. we're going to make a down payment on debt reduction, and we're going to point the country in the right direction, we're going to cut spending. [applause] you know, there will be times p when conservatives disagree on the way forward. we've never marched in lockstep. that's not what we do. a healthy debate is a good and needed thing. we can deliberate in private without fighting in public. all we should ask of each other is that we give an honest account of our actions and their reasons for them. we should challenge the left, not each other. and if we take the prudent course, you know what? we'll be in really good company. our founders were men of prudence. take james madison. nowadays we call him the founder, the father of the constitution. but at the constitutional convention, he lost some key arguments. you know, he fought the plan to give each state the same number of seats in the senate. he thought it was deeply unjust. and at first he wants -- he wanted congress to be able to ve
and we're not going to just keep raising the debt ceiling. we're going to make a down payment on debt reduction, and we're going to point the country in the right direction, we're going to cut spending. [applause] you know, there will be times p when conservatives disagree on the way forward. we've never marched in lockstep. that's not what we do. a healthy debate is a good and needed thing. we can deliberate in private without fighting in public. all we should ask of each other is that we give...
59
59
Jan 26, 2013
01/13
by
MSNBC
tv
eye 59
favorite 0
quote 0
we've got sequestration coming, we've got the debt ceiling coming again we have to deal with in may. your article, this is a heck of a title, once unthinkable severe spending cuts now seem plausible, how so? >> t.j., what we saw in the congress was a few years ago they put together such big budget cuts, $1.2 trillion in cuts split 50-50 between military spending and domestic spending. and those were so big that everybody agreed at the time that there was no way we would do kind of this across the board budget ax. we're going to come back, we're going to rethink this and we're going to try to get those savings in a more -- in a smarter way. and that hope as it were is pretty much shot now when you talk to the republicans and democrats in the congress. republicans believe many of the deficit hawks out there believe this is the best chance they have for cutting spending. it's going to become law on march 1st. it's already on the way to taking effect. and democrats are happy to replace some of those cuts, particularly in the military side, but they want to do it with tax increases which
we've got sequestration coming, we've got the debt ceiling coming again we have to deal with in may. your article, this is a heck of a title, once unthinkable severe spending cuts now seem plausible, how so? >> t.j., what we saw in the congress was a few years ago they put together such big budget cuts, $1.2 trillion in cuts split 50-50 between military spending and domestic spending. and those were so big that everybody agreed at the time that there was no way we would do kind of this...